The Best Water Safety Products for Kids & Families: Keep Kids Safe in the Bath and Swimming Pool

Updated:
August 7, 2017

13 minute read

Water safety is a concern year-round for every parent, especially at bath time. But in the summertime, it becomes even more important than ever. The kids want to be swimming and splashing around outside while moms and dads want to make sure their families are safe in the water.

The good news is that are many smart and innovative water safety products to help parents keep their families safe in the water. And while no water product can replace an attentive parent or a certified lifeguard, these water safety products can give parents a little more peace of mind when spending time in and near the water with their families.

Best Water Safety Products for Kids and Families

From the pool to the bathtub, here are 35 of the best water safety products available to keep water time safe and fun for the whole family.

Not all swim products have been endorsed by an Olympic gold medalist, but this one has. Josh Davis, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, supports this swim system that is designed for kids ages 3 to 6 and who weigh approximately 35 to 55 pounds. The system grows with your child, as the foam plates can be removed one by one until she is swimming all by herself.

Key Features:

Designed for kids who are ready to swim

The system allows for gradual decrease of flotation pads, allowing for swimming support at the child’s own readiness levels

As young swimmers become more skilled at swimming, they often do not want to be hindered by floats around their waist and arms. Water Gear offers a solution with its Back Float, featuring a Progressive Split Float.

Key Features:

Soft, comfortable, closed cell EVA foam that will not absorb water or chip

Sometimes, the best strategy for keeping kids safe is to rely on the old tried-and-true method of learning through literacy. In this book by Claire Llewellyn and illustrated by Mike Gordon, kids learn the importance of learning to swim and the safety rules surrounding pools, the beach and open boats.

Often, Dads are charged with hauling the canoes and kayaks on shore and holding the boat steady until the last little feet are onboard. Dad’s job will be easier and more comfortable with Columbia’s Drainmaker II Water Shoe.

When having family time at lakes, ponds, and rivers, it is important to remember that babies have difficulty navigating the slippery, rocky ground. The Unisex-Baby Infant Swim Shoes from i play. are a great answer to that problem, especially because they are offered in a wide range of sizes.

Designed for kids between 30 to 50 pounds, the Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket is perfect for kids who are learning how to swim and getting comfortable and confident in the water. Because the life jacket will not ride up around kids’ necks, they are more comfortable while swimming or learning to swim.

For water activities that require a flotation device with the possibility of more mobility, the Nekdoodle is the answer. Float or swim hands-free while the Nekdoodle supports your head and neck. For parents who are catching jumping or sliding children at the pool, this might just be the solution you’ve been seeking.

One important aspect of water safety is protecting your family from the harmful sun’s rays. With UV50+ sun protection, Speedo’s UV Polywog suit provides all-day protection with maximum comfort and no restriction of motion with full flotation support.

It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to water safety, and the Safety Pool Hook is a product that helps families do just that. If someone is in danger at the pool, you can safely get them out without jumping in and putting yourself at risk.

One of the most difficult bath-time tasks for parents is getting the water temperature correct for their kids. Always worried that the water is too hot or getting too cold near the end of bath time, parents tend to be up to their elbows in water… literally. Let the Deluxe Safety Bath Thermometer Alarm take the guesswork – and sopping wet arms – out of the bath time routine.

Key Features:

Easy to use – no buttons

Automatically activates

Reads bath temperature every 2 seconds

Alerts parents with an audible alarm if the water is too hot or too cold

Ozeri’s Turtlemeter brings safety and functionality to play time in the bath tub. The Turtlemeter calculates bath water temperature every second and displays the temperature with three different color screens, for an easy-to-read result every time.

Key Features:

Instantly activates in the water

Floats naturally and is fully submersible

Displays in Fahrenheit on an easy-to-read LCD with blue, green, or red colors

Adding a little more style and fun to bath safety is a whole lot easier with Boon’s Flo Water Deflector. Flo transforms a regular bathtub faucet into a gentle waterfall that kids won’t mind leaning back into when it’s time to rinse the shampoo.

Designed for use from the very first bath through baths during the toddler years, the Infant to Toddler Tub from The First Years provides a safe and comfortable environment to make bath time more enjoyable and safe. Complete with a temperature guard drain plug, the tub has features to make bath time easier for parents and children.

One of the most difficult aspects of bath time for babies is their desire to be independent conflicting with the parents’ desire to keep them safe in the water. Papillon provides a smart solution with its Baby Bath Ring.

Key Features:

Create a developmental playground for baby in the tub

Allows baby to play freely in the water, once he can sit up on his own

Butterfly shape prevents baby from tipping over in the tub

Easy to clean – just rinse and hang or throw it into the washing machine

Add functionality to safety and whimsy with this PATRULL bath mat by IKEA. Little ones will love bath time with their crocodile friend, and parents will love knowing that they have reduced the risk of their tots slipping in the tub or shower.

Sometimes, water safety needs to be something you keep in mind even inside your own home, with the water that you drink. With the WaterSafe Drinking Water Test Kit, you are able to bring lab-quality results to your home and identify whether your drinking water is safe for your family.

Families who camp frequently know the value of clean drinking water from virtually anywhere, and it never hurts for members of the family to be prepared. LifeStraw, a Time Magazine “Invention of the Year” winner, offers access to clean and safe drinking water for anyone, anywhere.

Key Features:

No after-taste, since no chlorine, iodine, or other chemicals are used

No waiting time for water to drip or chemicals to act; you can drink from your LifeStraw right away

5-year shelf life

Removes a minimum of 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites

All family members to be safe when boating or fishing, and Mustang Survival offers an industrial-strength personal flotation device (PFD) for those occasions. The large armholes allow for optimal mobility, and the Tug-Tite side adjustments create a custom fit for users.

Key Features:

Four large Velcro-secured front pockets for storing essential items

2 D-rings can be used for lanyard attachments

SOLAS reflective tape on shoulders allows for visibility in dark or stormy conditions

Fox 40’s Water Safety Rope & Float is softer and easier to handle than a conventional rope, so boating and other marine activities with your family can be a little more worry-free. With 900lb breaking strength, this safety rope should meet all of your family’s aquatic needs.

Key Features:

Made from extra-fine polypropylene filaments woven into a high-density braid

50ft length

Float is made of expanded polyvinyl chloride for toughness, weather resistance and long life

When boating with your family, it is best to be prepared for anything, and Kwik Tek’s Boat LL-2 Life Line Boat Safety Kit makes sure that you are. Recommended for all boats, this kit includes all of the essentials.

Don’t let its compact size fool you: Fox 40’s Deluxe Boat Safety Kit has everything your family needs to stay safe on a day of canoeing, kayaking, or boating. Complete with the Original Fox 40 Whistle, this kit comes from a reputable name in water safety products.

With a full five-star rating on Amazon.com, the Falcon Safety Push Button Horn seems to be the clear choice among boaters. If your family needs to signal because of fog, rescue, or emergency situations, the Falcon horn is the top choice.

Even with all of your preparations, accidents happen, and the Outdoor First Aid Kit from Total Resources International should cover all of your family’s first aid needs while on the water. The 201 pieces have an emphasis on outdoor protection.

With all of the precautions families take on the water, someone still could fall overboard. Be prepared for the most desperate of situations with the Kent Type IV Boat Cushion. Designed for immediate emergencies, the cushion should not be used for small children, non-swimmers, or unconscious victims.

Key Features:

Two-tone webbing grab straps to aid in throwing or for convenient carrying

Accidents and incidents can happen at any time, so having a PFD light adds one more layer of protection for your family. With their bright colors and lights, the Fulton PFD Light attaches to your family’s PFDs to make them more visible in the event of a water emergency.

Keeping track of your cell phone and electronic devices is an important part of water safety, but it is not beneficial to have them along on your swimming or boating trip if they are not within arm’s reach. Aryca’s Floating Lanyard solves that problem by adding buoyancy to your devices in their waterproof cases.